History of Hindu Mathematics: A Source Book v2.c17.s18.t1.3

v2.c17.s18.t1.3

In particular, we find mention of two such right triangles having a common side *a*, *viz.*, (a, 3a/4, 5a/4) and (a, 5a/12, 13a/12).⁴ The principle underlying these solutions will be easily detected to be that of the reduction of the sides of any rational right triangle in the ratio of the given side to its corresponding side. This principle of finding rational right triangles having a given side has been followed explicitly by Mahâvîra (850).¹